I’m aware that the name “alb” derives from the Latin terms alba/albus for “white.” Should albs be “white-white” or is off-white just as approved/good? Does it come down to personal taste or is this defined someplace by the Church for liturgical use?
When it comes to stoles and chasubles there seems to be a lot of flexibility so I don’t see an issue… one priest’s purple can be pretty different from another priest’s purple.
When it comes to stoles and chasubles there seems to be a lot of flexibility so I don’t see an issue… one priest’s purple can be pretty different from another priest’s purple.
What I meant is the Church shows flexibility when it comes to the colour of chasubles. You’ll find different shades of purple during Advent and Lent.
Likewise, I can’t imagine the “shade” of white is a big issue for albs.
There is nothing dictating "how’ white an alb should be. I have served with several bishops and priests who I would describe as having light ivory or perhaps champagne tinted albs. Under a chausible or dalmatic you don’t really notice variations in shade unless they tend towards a more yellow “unbleached” of “natural” linen or wool blend.
The main reason to prefer a “white” alb is more uniformity at say the liturgy of the hours or when you have more than one instituted lector and/or acolyte in the same mass. Most clergy I know have a white alb they use for that reason even if they might normally use an alb that has some amount of tint.
In my experience, a lot of the “pure white” albs are of lightweight material and look like bedsheets. Our deacon has heavier albs with a nice weave that are ivory - no lace - and look much more dignified than the rumpled bedsheets I often see on priests.
I prefer the eggshell look myself. But of course, this would all depend on the background that people are standing in. Eggshell walls would mean eggshell albs would be ideal. If the walls are white, then white stormtrooper albs would look better. If the walls are an entirely different color, such as brick or another color, it isn’t too important, but eggshell is still less gaudy than pure white imo.
This is of course all based on interior design and has nothing to do with church law
White is a liturgical color signifying innocence, purity, and triumph, hence you see it used at Easter, Christmas, and a few other occasions.
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